Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Clergy roles combine communication, interpersonal, and leadership strengths in a career centered on guiding and supporting others. Nationally, this occupation employs about 262,000 people, with a median annual salary of $60,820 and projected employment growth of 1.0%. About 23,000 openings are expected each year, indicating ongoing movement and opportunity within the field. The work favors individuals who are comfortable speaking and listening, working closely with people, and exercising sound judgment. Creativity, innovation, and project management also matter, reflecting the need to plan and carry out programs and initiatives. Core skills such as problem solving, adaptability, customer service, and critical and analytical thinking help clergy navigate complex situations. A bachelor’s degree is the typical education requirement, making the field accessible to those prepared for college-level study. For people drawn to relationship-focused, mission-driven work that relies on strong communication and leadership skills, clergy can offer a stable, long-term career path.
The national median annual salary for clergy is $60,820, but pay can vary by location. Several states show higher median salaries, such as Washington at $80,830, California at $77,710, and Massachusetts at $72,190. Colorado at $63,700 and New York at $58,580 fall closer to the national median, illustrating that pay ranges are not uniform even among strong states for this occupation. Metro areas also show notable differences. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has a median salary of $77,510, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is close behind at $74,580. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH offers $73,160, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV are nearer the national figure, at $61,860 and $61,170 respectively. Overall, earnings potential is influenced significantly by where you work, with some states and metros offering substantially higher median pay.
Clergy roles have a national projected employment growth rate of 1.0%, with current employment around 262,000 workers. This modest growth suggests a relatively stable occupation rather than one undergoing rapid expansion or contraction. The field is expected to generate about 23,000 annual openings. These openings represent both new positions and opportunities created as people retire, change careers, or move into different roles. For someone considering this path, the combination of a large existing workforce and consistent annual openings indicates an ongoing need for qualified clergy rather than a one-time spike in demand. The steady projected growth figure appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, signaling similar expectations in different parts of the country. Overall, the outlook supports viewing clergy as a career with continuing opportunities for entry and advancement over time.
Location has a clear impact on opportunity for clergy, with differences in salary, employment levels, and CareerGPS opportunity scores across states and metros. Among states, California leads on opportunity score at 67.38, with a median salary of $77,710 and employment of 7,110. Massachusetts and New York also show strong scores (65.87 and 65.78), but with different profiles: Massachusetts combines a higher median salary of $72,190 with smaller employment (840), while New York offers lower median pay at $58,580 but higher employment (7,790). Washington and Colorado provide midrange scores (56.29 and 56.97) with median salaries of $80,830 and $63,700 respectively. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out with the highest opportunity scores (77.42 and 77.27). Other metros like San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH offer strong combinations of salaries and opportunity scores as well.
Clergy typically need a bachelor’s degree, so planning for this career usually starts with completing a four-year college program. Beyond formal education, the skill profile for this occupation highlights what it takes to be effective in the role. Speaking and listening, interpersonal skills, and customer service point to the importance of working closely and sensitively with people. Leadership, project management, and problem solving and decision making show that clergy are expected to guide others, organize efforts, and make thoughtful choices. Creativity and innovation suggest room for developing new approaches, while writing and reading are central for preparing and understanding important materials. Critical and analytical thinking and adaptability help clergy respond to complex and changing situations. Together, these skills and the bachelor’s-level education requirement indicate a role that blends academic preparation with strong people and organizational abilities.
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